Chapter 65: The Beautiful Xiangyun of the Shi Family

  Today's pink tickets are full 15 and will be updated, so everyone is begging everyone to vote for Jinghe.

  It wasn't until dusk that Zi Juan rushed back to the West Wing Courtyard.

  Daiyu was anxiously waiting in her room, and when she saw her return, she hurriedly asked: "How was it?"

  Zi Juan's face showed a happy expression, "Don't worry, miss. My brother said that he knows an old servant from the outer courtyard of the princess's mansion who often goes to the rice shop to buy rice. This person loves to drink and although he can't know any confidential matters, he can understand some trivial things about the household. My brother only told me to go home in two days and then he will tell me more details."

  Daiyu listened and the tight strings in her heart relaxed a bit, she also remembered Zhiyuan's words of comfort, and felt that she was being overly anxious, maybe it was just Princess Long who casually asked, but the siblings took it to heart.

  This night's sleep was exceptionally sweet.

  On the second day, early in the morning, the Rongguo Mansion was bustling with excitement. The maids and servant women all crowded into the front courtyard to pay their respects to the families of Duke Zheng and Duke Ning. Even Madame Xue from Li Xiang Yuan brought Baochai to join in the commotion at Grandmother Jia's place. The young ladies were all dressed up, each one looking more beautiful than the last. Only in Xi Ke Yuan was everything calm and orderly. Zijuan led Xiangyun and Xiangling in airing out books in the courtyard, while Yanyu took Peixiang to make new autumn clothes for the girls, and Xueyan added water for the parrot under the corridor...

  Song's mother carried a small basket into the west wing, and Zijuan looked up just in time to see her. "Song's mother, why have you come?" Song's mother ran a few steps to get to her side, smiling as she handed the basket to Zijuan: "This is the thin pancake I made this morning, let the girls try some fresh ones." As she spoke, she secretly winked at Zijuan.

  Zi Juan understood in her heart and led Song's mother to sit on a stone stool not far away, "Mother is looking for me, is there something?"

  Mrs. Song looked around and saw that everyone in the courtyard was busy with their own affairs, so she said quietly: "Qingwen, your brother is sitting in the gatehouse right now, I've asked our young fourth son to keep him company. He wants you to take leave of Miss Lin, saying there's something at home."

  Zi Juan didn't expect her brother to have news so soon, she originally thought that at least it would take until tomorrow.

  Thanked Song's mother and hurried in to report to Daiyu.

  Yuan'ang and Daiyu were sitting on the kang by the window, chatting, when they saw Zi Juan come in. "Wasn't it said that you would be airing books for your young mistress in the front yard?" Yuan'ang asked. "What brings you here?"

  Yan's expression was always cold and stern, but today her words were especially severe. Zijuan hastily stepped forward a few steps to report the truth about her request for leave to return home.

  Daiyu took advantage of the fact that Lian's mother had not yet spoken and said, "Hurry up and go, you don't often come home, coming all the way back from Suzhou, your parents must be constantly thinking about you."

  When Zi Juan left, Nurse Li looked at Dai Yu with a helpless expression. "Miss is too kind-hearted, I know you're close to Zi Juan, but you can't spoil her like this. She's the senior maid by your side, and if things go on like this, the younger ones will follow suit - what's to be done?"

  "Don't worry, Aunt Xiang, Zijuan is not like others. These years she has been serving me wholeheartedly by my side. Daiyu always treats her as a close relative, and I also believe that Zijuan won't do anything wrong." In her heart, Daiyu understood that she trusted Zijuan more than Aunt Xiang, and towards Zijuan and Xueyan, Daiyu was always slightly biased.

  She was about to persuade him again, but the words reached her lips and swallowed back. She was just the opposite of Daiyu last night, turning over and over, unable to fall asleep. The words of Princess Chang were still in her ears, although they did not explicitly state it, but the meaning that came out of them, how could this old man who had been mixed up in the palace for decades not hear it? Princess Chang has always regarded the children born by the Marquis as thorns in her eyes and flesh, and she has long wanted to find an excuse to get rid of them. It's just that these two people have been using their unmarried status as an excuse, and they are reluctant to move out of the Qu family mansion. The wealthy families in Beijing do not want to marry their daughters to them, and Princess Chang is clearly not welcoming to both of them. This marriage cannot bring benefits to the family, but will instead lead to the princess's disgust.

  So yesterday when Princess Chang asked about Lin's daughter, Yan's heartstrings were tight with fear of misunderstanding. Yan tactfully explained the relationship between the East Ping Hou Fu and the Lin family master, hoping to dispel Princess Chang's thoughts. She was sent to teach Lin's daughter, but couldn't bear to see her marry the wrong person. Yan had already discussed this matter with Master yesterday and wrote a letter, sending it back to Suzhou by express horse, hoping that Seventh Princess could reverse the situation.

  At this time, Jia's San Chun and Bao Chai led a group of twelve or thirteen little girls into the west wing of the courtyard. The whole courtyard was filled with the sounds of birds chirping and chattering, extremely lively. Jia Baoyu followed behind, one foot stepping inside the door, the other still outside, hesitating without moving. Tan Chun saw him and hurried over to pull him, "Second brother, what's wrong? Didn't we agree yesterday that when we came to Lin sister's place, we would just play and joke like before, and not mention that matter again?"

  Baoyu was somewhat dispirited and looked just like he did when his father made him recite books, "Third sister, I'd better not go in. The other day, I had already offended Lin's sister to the extreme, she must be furious these days, if I went, it would only make her more disgusted."

  "Second brother is actually talking nonsense, I don't believe that Lin sister is that kind of person. Although Lin sister has a bit of a temper, she's a good person. In the past few years when she was at our house, wasn't it always you who would quarrel with her and then apologize first, and everything would be fine again?" Xiangyun shook her head in disapproval.

  These two days, Bao Yu's mood was not good and he didn't eat much. Old Madame only scolded the kitchen maids for being lazy, and had them specially prepare food for Bao Yu. Everyone guessed that Bao Yu must have had a falling out with Lin Daiyu, otherwise why hadn't he gone to the west wing in these few days? This was not like his usual behavior.

  Bao Yu and Tanchun were talking here, when the girl from the Shi family in front of them said unhappily: "A Gege, I rarely come once, but you two siblings have left me alone to chat and laugh." This girl from the Shi family was named Xiangyun, and she was Jia Mu's niece. Since her parents had passed away when she was young, she grew up with her uncle and aunt. Jia Mu saw that Xiangyun was like a solitary wild goose, so she especially pitied her. When she was young, she often invited Xiangyun to the Jia mansion to play, and Xiangyun got along extremely well with Bao Yu and San Chun. Xiangyun was also someone who spoke directly from her heart, and everyone spoiled her. These past two years, her uncle had been an official in a distant province, so Xiangyun had also drifted about in a foreign land for quite some time. Now that she had returned, it was only natural that she would come to visit Jia Mu and the sisters in the mansion.

  Xiangyun and her aunts arrived at Rongguo House, where everyone was praising Old Lady Lin's granddaughter for her exceptional talent and beauty. Xiangyun quietly pulled Tanchun's hand, insisting on going to the West Wing to pay their respects. Xiangyun had always been a bit of a child, enjoying being surrounded by people, but now seeing her brother and Tanchun whispering to each other, she immediately began to complain.

  Yan Rong heard the noise of the crowd and had already drawn the curtains. She rarely went out of the courtyard, so she only saw Ying Chun a few times, naturally not as much as Zi Juan and Xue Yan. Shi Xiangyun was straightforward and quick-witted, seeing Yan Rong, she smiled and said: "I said this girl looks familiar, it's a bit like the style of Ning Fu's Xiao Rong's wife."

  When Xiangyun said this, they suddenly noticed that there was indeed some resemblance. On the other side, Xue Baochai couldn't help but laugh out loud, and everyone asked her what was so funny. Xue Baochai smiled and said: "We also have a Xiaohong at home, and when she stands next to Lin's maid, they look like twin sisters." Everyone didn't believe it, and they asked Baochai's maid, Ying'er, to go call the one named Xiaohong over.

  Xiangyun saw Daiyu and pulled her, saying that she looked familiar and must have seen Lin sister somewhere before. Ying Chun smiled and poked Xiangyun's forehead, glancing at Bao Yu sitting beside her, saying: "It can be seen that Shi is a relative of our family, and the way they talk is also similar. When Bao Yu saw Lin girl for the first time, didn't he say the same thing?"

  Spring's usual taciturn nature made it rare to see her joke around like this. Xiangyun cast a glance at her, a faint smile playing on the corners of her mouth.

  Daiyu also liked Xiangyun's straightforward personality. "Because of the family matters, it's not convenient to go to the front to welcome my sister. Sanmei and I discussed it, and Old Lady asked Xiangyun to stay for a while, so we can see each other every day." Xiangyun clapped her hands and said: "Great, great! Then I won't be polite and come to bother Lin sister often. Right, I heard from San sister that Lin sister has two younger male and female cousins? They must be good too, quickly invite them over for us to meet."

  Xiangyun's maid, Cui Lian, was anxiously stamping her feet in the back. This girl from their household spoke without thinking ahead or behind. When it came to meeting Lin's cousin for the first time, how could they not bring some gifts? But where did these things come from? The young lady had brought four red agate chains, but those were all for famous masters, and there was no way to spare even half a point.

  Before long, Rong Ze and Xue Qi came forward with Snow Goose's hands in theirs.

  Xiangyun saw Rongze's tiger-like appearance, extremely lovely, with a small face like a tender apple that made people love him. She couldn't help but run up and hug Rongze in her arms, patting and stroking him here and there. Since arriving at the Lin family, everyone had been doting on Rongze, who had never seen such an intimidating scene before. His small mouth pouted, and he let out a loud wail. A pair of small hands stretched out towards Daiyu, while his little feet kicked and stomped restlessly. It was unclear where Rongze had run off to play earlier, but the new embroidered shoes he had put on that morning were now covered in dust, instantly turning Xiangyun's new clothes into a floral pattern.

  "Hey, don't cry, look at this!" Xiangyun was flustered and quickly put down Rongze, then took out a white jade Guanyin from her own bosom and placed it in Rongze's hand.

  Daiyu knew that the jade was a good thing as soon as she saw Xiangyun take it out, and was afraid that it was an ancient object from the Hou family for many years. She didn't dare to let Rongze hold it, lest he break it. "Sister Shi, quickly put it away, this kid is mischievous, be careful not to break it." Xiangyun looked at the white jade Guanyin that Daiyu handed back to her, and for a moment she was hesitant. She suddenly realized that she should give something as a gift for their meeting, and the Guanyin was just right. However, this object was her mother's relic from years ago, always worn close to her body, how could she bear to give it away? But apart from this, what else did she have left?

  This month, many new people have been put on the shelves. Jinghe thinks that the pressure is huge and it's true what they say: "In front of you are great gods blocking your way, behind you are newcomers blowing up the bridge." It's not easy being Jinghe, let's give him a few pink votes!